Livie Bloom is an energetic, fun-loving, and generally a happy-go-lucky child. But when she learns from her doctor that she has celiac disease and cannot consume food containing gluten, she becomes sad and seeks solace in her tree house—a safe spot where she often goes to read, draw, and sometimes just to think. When she falls asleep things begin to fall into place when her dreams bring her to different countries where she learns about other cultures and traditions.

Frances Alvarado-Ng’s BEYOND A GLUTEN-FREE DREAM features an engaging and educational story line, solid narrative structure and intriguing settings. The most obvious audience for the book are children who have been diagnosed with celiac disease and/or are gluten intolerent, but the moral of the story is universal—discovering and focusing on the positive under negative conditions. The memorable main character Livie is fun, imaginative, curious, and emotional at times. Above all, she is likable and has a contagious personality that will keep children invested in the story. She is faced with a problem that will affect her daily life, and she does something about it. Children can look up to such a role model and the extraordinary settings make the story interesting, educational, and intriguing. And while some of the language may be challenging for younger children, exposing them to new words is a powerful way to help them develop good listening skills.

The story is structured with a clear beginning, middle, and ending that make it easy to follow. Alvarado-Ng introduces the main character, establishes the mood, and reveals the main character’s problem at the start, skillfully setting the stage for what is to come. The middle is filled with adventure, discovery, and problem-solving. The ending satisfactorily ties everything together. The illustrations by Marianne Savage are brilliant—skillfully detailed, visually appealing, and relevant to the story line. Colorful, vivid images help to set the tone, complement and enhance the story, and bring visual balance to the pages. The connection between the illustrations and text enhances the narrative and is right on-target.

Frances Alvarado-Ng’s BEYOND A GLUTEN-FREE DREAM is a well-written, beautifully-illustrated children’s book that tells a compelling story that will educate, engage, and entertain children of all ages.

~Florence Osmund for IndieReader